Treit and True:

Weeding out the Griefers

I keep receiving the same questions via my gamertag. Mostly I can quickly reply to them with something standard, but sometimes the point of concern needs a more thoughtful response.

The question of what to do with "griefers," those players who actively cheat or attempt to frustrate another gamer's experience is one of those concerns that I can't address quickly or lightly. These unfortunate folk crop up from time to time in any online community, but unlike some other online services, Xbox Live® is built to manage the antics of these rotten apples.

A few simple rules will dampen their influence on your Xbox Live experience and reduce their prominence to little more than a sad afterthought.

Review and Review and Review
The Player Review system is a sweet and long-lasting solution to avoiding gameplay with players who are less than fair. If you encounter a griefer, take the time to make it clear on Xbox Live that you want nothing to do with them. Tap your guide button, select the player from the player list, choose Player Review, and select avoid. This way, the Matchmaking service will keep you separate from the griefer.

Don't Stoop
Like a forum poster with an inflated sense of importance, the griefer will squeal and hiss until they get your attention. That's what they crave, to push your buttons until you lower yourself to their level. The easy solution: Ignore them. You will always be tempted to send back a scathing response to highlight their lack of wit, but this will only inflame the situation, so sit back, relax, let it go, and let them toil in their own obscurity.

Mute Is Your Friend
The simplest solution, of course, for dealing with a griefer's antics is simply to hit mute, magically putting an end to lame excuses, profanity, and constant, pointless commentary. Simply tap your guide button, go to the player's list, highlight the offending player, and select mute. All better.

Spread the Word
If you come into contact with a particularly vile player, you may want to note their name and give fair warning to your friends. That way they can avoid the griefer as well, or know to mute or avoid them if they run into them.

Whoop 'em Good
Of course, the best revenge is putting a griefer in their place by dominating them at every turn. There are few things more satisfying than the few moments of eerie silence where there was once boastful commentary after shutting a griefer down. The following string of excuses is usually pretty entertaining, too. The fragile ego of the griefer makes consistent losing hard to swallow, and the most efficient way to be rid of them is to beat them.

It is amazing how smooth an ongoing match can be after you remove the bad apple. Suddenly, the chatter is easy, friendly, and free-flowing, the strategy is richer as teammates can communicate without mockery or sarcasm, and the good times can roll.

It almost pains me to deal with this subject, as the offending players shouldn't even be worthy of mention. Occasionally, though, the problem requires addressing, and if these tips help even one player rid themselves of a griefer over Xbox Live, then it is worth the effort. Xbox Live is brimming with friendly, honest, competitive players, and this thriving community will enrich and add to your gaming experiences, especially if you use these tips to weed out the occasional punk.

Article by Ryan Treit